Residential Infill (Lazy Lands Project)

Top Requests

The Department of Regional Development and Lands, in association with the City of Karratha, has identified 61 parcels of surplus land reserved for parks, recreation and drainage that is under-utilised. Once rezoned by the City of Karratha, these parcels will be suitable for residential development. The development of these sites will assist with meeting Karratha’s current and future housing requirements.

Since the original development of the town, understanding of flood risk has evolved considerably. Now, the Department of Water and other peak bodies have confirmed that the parcels of land are either not subject to flooding or can be designed in a way to allow development without impacting on adjoining land.

The Department of Regional Development and Lands is currently seeking to progress the planning and development of the first seven parcels representing stage one of the Lazy Lands project. These seven parcels, which have been awarded to private sector developers though a recent Expression of Interest process, are expected to yield close to 200 dwellings and will include a mix of one, two and three bedroom homes in a variety of designs including single, two and three stories.

For more information, please download the Pilbara Development Commission's FAQs (PDF 123KB).

Karratha Coastal Vulnerability Study

A study of the impacts of future climate change, the hydrology around Karratha, shoreline stability, flooding from storm surge and riverine flooding. From storm surge and hydraulic modelling, a set of maps have been produced for the 2. 10, 100, 200 and 500 year ARI events for the 2010, 2060 and 2110 climate scenarios. These maps show flood extent, depth and levels from combined effect of storm surge and riverine flooding taking into account joint probability. For the 2060 scenario, flood levels generally increase by 0.2 to 0.3m, with the predicted changes in sea level (0.3m) accounting for changes adjacent to the coast and increased rainfall intensities accounting for increased flood levels inland. Flood levels increase further for the 2110 scenario. On the positive side, most of the existing townsite, Gap Ridge and Baynton West in the west, and the Karratha LIA are above the 100yr ARI flood level. Future development in floodplain areas impacted by the 100 year to 500 year ARI storm surge events may require management where fill is required to provide clearance as this may result in steep batter slopes which will significantly increase wave run-up.

Lazy Lands 2D Flood Study and Local Water Management Framework

This study assessed the current impact of flooding from rainfall runoff on the Karratha townsite. 61 Lazy Lands sites were assessed against the 100 year ARI flood and classified as being either hydrologically constrained or not. The study includes a Local Water Management Framework to outline the appropriate level of water management reporting required to accompany either a Scheme Amendment or a Development Application for each site. The LWMF does not consider storm surge implications, which are addressed in the Karratha Coastal Vulnerability Study and the City of Karratha's Draft Local Storm Surge Risk Planning Policy (DP19). The study concludes that the majority of the 61 sites are not required for drainage, although some sites may require additional engineering works to mitigate the impact of development on drainage flood levels.